Shore Transit Considers Service Reduction

Posted:
Tuesday, August 26, 2014 10:51 PM EDT

SALISBURY, Md.- Shore transit may soon reduce service hours and eliminate some fixed bus routes to help balance its budget.

Shore Transit Director Brad Bellacicco said changes to certain fixed routes and service hours has been implemented before. With summer winding down, Bellacicco said some fixed routes will not be used as much, and there is not enough funding to keep all of the routes up and running.

Ricardo Sawyer of Salisbury waited patiently for his bus to arrive today. He and others at a Shore Transit bus stop depend heavily on the service.

"I ride the bus everyday and sometimes three times a day," Sawyer said.

But, where and when Sawyer catches the bus could soon change. Bellacicco said the agency hoped to have an $8 million budget. As of now, the budget is $6 million.

"We were operating 1200 hours over the summer to try and get the people there, so now we have to reduce it down below 900 to make up the difference to balance our budget," Bellacicco said.

He said there are 13 fixed bus routes that travel through Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset Counties. He said 14 of 43 buses run daily between 3 a.m. and 1 a.m. However, that will be the case this winter for some areas.

"There will be fewer runs between Salisbury, Pocomoke, Princess Anne, Berlin into the Ocean City area because there will be fewer people traveling to work," Bellacicco said.

Though none of these changes are set in stone, Sawyer is just hoping it does not affect him.

" If they cut out my route, I catch the 132, I"ll be in trouble," Sawyer said.

Shore Transit held a public meeting at 6:30 tonight at the Tri-County Council Center in Salisbury.

Bellacicco said no decisions have been made yet, and that changes will not go into effect before October 6, 2014.

Seaford police said they arrested two people Tuesday after they allegedly tried to leave a restaurant without paying their bill. The incident escalated when one of them then fled the scene and was found armed with a bow and arrow.More

Seaford police said they arrested two people Tuesday after they allegedly tried to leave a restaurant without paying their bill. The incident escalated when one of them then fled the scene and was found armed with a bow and arrow.More

Maryland gun owners are worried about two big bills that will be discussed at the state capital next week.

House Bill 612 aims to place AR-15 HBAR rifles as a "regulated firearm." If passed by the house, the law would only grandfather in rifles purchased after October 1, 2013. Those purchased after 2013 would have to be returned.

Maryland gun owners are worried about two big bills that will be discussed at the state capital next week.

House Bill 612 aims to place AR-15 HBAR rifles as a "regulated firearm." If passed by the house, the law would only grandfather in rifles purchased after October 1, 2013. Those purchased after 2013 would have to be returned.

The mysterious plane crash on Wroten Island that WBOC reported back in November of 2018 is now being told publicly for the first time in 65 years.

After the original story aired, WBOC received an email from one of the previous owners of Wroten Island. After meeting with that man, Philip Inglehart and longtime friend, Michael Keyser the mystery unfolded on camera.

The mysterious plane crash on Wroten Island that WBOC reported back in November of 2018 is now being told publicly for the first time in 65 years.

After the original story aired, WBOC received an email from one of the previous owners of Wroten Island. After meeting with that man, Philip Inglehart and longtime friend, Michael Keyser the mystery unfolded on camera.